We received a call this afternoon from PJ Browne stating that former Villanova star Frank Murphy has lost his battle with Parkinson's and passed away at the age of 69. The two-time Olympian for Ireland (1968 and 1972) was on NCAA cross country winning teams in 1966, 67 and 68. In track, he was a member of 8 Penn Relays title teams and is in the Penn Relays Wall of Fame. At NCAAs, he anchored Villanova to DMR titles in 1968 and 1969. Individually, he won the NCAA 880 indoor title in 1969 - the same year he won the IC4a 1k crown.
His death has now been confirmed in press reports.
http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.302/90296/0/
Here is an article on his career when he was inducted into Athletics Ireland's Hall of Fame.
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/frank-murphy-hall-of-fame-induction-2014/
Here is an Irish Times article on him from 2014.
Condolences to friends and family.